Seesaw



2 Sheets-Sheet l P. A. JONCAS SEESAW Filed Dec. 19, 1959 Aug. l2', 1941..

Aug. 12, 1941. P. A. JONCAS 2,252,008

sEEsAw Filed Dec. 19, 1939 2 sheets-sheet 2 1P rif In M 1 |11 Z3 Z gg W 79 in n Il" 2f 2- '1h14 M 'ff Znf/ Z7 3d 27 ff wi/222111.(fo/Mggmm ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 12, 194i SEESAW Phillip A. llfoncas, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application December 19, i939, Serial No. Sllll' 2 Claims.

My invention relates broadly to new and useful improvements in amusement devices, and more particularly to a teetering device that is unique to permit a single individual to use and enjoy the same.

An important object of my device is the production of a teetering device that is particularly adapted to be used by small children and that is unique in its construction to permit a single child to play on and actuate the same.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a teetering device wherein the seat portion of the same is permitted a limited vertical movement against the resilient action of a spring means and wherein a weaker spring means acting normally to the iirst spring is provided to normally hold the teetering board under a light tension and to prevent dangerous swinging of the first spring during violent actuation of the teetering board.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of a teetering device that will provide both pleasure and exercise for the user and is thus particularly adapted to playground equipment.

Yet `another object of my invention is the provision of a teetering device that is simple in construction and eiicient and eflicacious in the performance of its duties.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings, forming a part of this speciiication, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same- Figure 1 is a side elevation, showing parts broken away, of a device embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l, and

ll'igure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the supporting post to which the teetering boards are mounted.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration, is shown' a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral IB designates a post adapted to support the teetering boards II. The lower end I2 of the post may be imbedded in concrete, as at I3, or mounted in any suitable manner that will assure the vertical positioning of the same at all times, and the teetering boards II are here illustrated as being four in number and as being mounted in right angularly disposed relation at opposite sides of the support Ill.

The boards II are formed with elongated Shanks or stems Ill, the ends I5 of which are hingedly secured to the post adjacent the lower end thereof, as at Iii'. The free ends of the boards are enlarged, as at I6, to define seat portions and vertically disposed supporting handles Il are mounted on the shanks at the juncture of the seat portions therewith. The handles, as here illustrated, comprise a vertical support I8 carrying a transverse hand grip I9 at its upper end and a diagonally disposed brace element 20 extending between the forward edge of the support and the upper surface of the shank I4.

The supporting post is surmounted by a plate 2l which is formed with overhanging flanges 22, and a section of chain 23, or the like, is secured to each of the anges by a link 2li. Another chain section 25 is attached to the stem I4 of each of the teeter boards slightly inwardly of the braces 2li by means of the eye-bolts 26, and the free ends of the chain sections are connected by a coil spring Z6 in a manner whereby the teeter boards will be normally disposed in substantially horizontal positions. Other and weaker springs 2l are horizontally disposed below the springs 2E' and have the end 28 secured to the post by means of the eye-bolts 29 and the end 3@ thereof fastened to the chain sections 25. The springs Z'l will hold the chain sections 23 and 25 bowed slightly inwardly and will hold the teeter boards Il under a slight tension at all times.

The teetering boards are particularly adapted to be used by small children and should, therefore, be positioned so that the feet of the children may touch the ground when they are seated on the seat portion I6 of the boards. In operation the larger springs 26 will act to permit the teetering action to be effected and the weaker springs 2l will absorb the jar or shock of the large spring to make the teetering action of the Iboards more regular and even. The small springs will also prevent the swinging of the large springs when the teetering boards are violently operated.

It may thus be seen that inasmuch as the springs 2l are held slightly tensioned by the weight of the boards they will be first extended, and that as the teetering action becomes more violent, the stronger resilient action of the large springs 26 will control the teetering action of the boards.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, or scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:A

1. An amusement device comprising an essentially tall vertically arranged support; a seat hingedly secured to the support adjacent the bottom thereof for swinging movement in a vertical plane whereby the greater part of the support extends thereabove; a flexible link member depending from the upper extremity of said support; another flexible link member secured to the seat at a point spaced from the support; spring means connecting the free ends of the links and holding the same tautly stretched in an essentially vertical position whereby downward swinging of the seat will be substantially directly yieldingly resisted by the spring means; and another and lighter spring connecting the rst spring to the support in a manner to permit the rst spring to move in a direction away from the support by yieldingly resisting such movement to prevent the first spring from swinging outwardly and striking a person positioned on the said seat.

2. An amusement device comprising a vertical support; a seat hingedly secured to the support adjacent the bottom thereof, said seat being adapted to swing in a vertical plane; a plate element surmounting the support and having a part projecting laterally thereof and above the said seat; a flexible link member depending from the projecting portion of the plate element; another exible link member secured to the seat at a point spaced from the support; spring means connecting the free ends of the links and holding the saine tautly stretched in a substantially vertical position; and another and lighter spring connected to the support and extending normally therefrom to engage the second link member adjacent the first spring in a manner to permit the rst spring to move in a direction away from the support but yieldingly resisting such movement to prevent the first spring from swinging outwardly and striking a person positioned on the said seat.

PHILLIP A. JONCAS. 

